Showing up to work SICK

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

don't get me wrong, i have been known to show up to work sick only to regret it later! my gripe is not only is it not good for my health to show up to work sick, it endangers the health of my patients, it tells the patient subtly to not take my words as a knowledgeable health worker too seriously, because i don't follow what i preach, plenty of rest, push fluids, and stay at home when i'm sick.

i do know that if everyone, earlier in the month of february at my hospital called in sick, we would have been struggling on my floor with tones of patients each! so i find this topic controversial and i don't have all the answers, do you?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Maybe if those of us who become ill stay home, then when we are well, do a few extra hours until the time is "made up" so that others won't have to struggle?

I have no idea if this is feasible, it's just a thought.

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Specializes in Too many to list.

Some facilities will send you home if you come in with cold or flu s/s. There are usually signs that will say this at the nursing stations. Personally, I do not like to work with anyone who is sick. They might wear a mask if they have respiratory symptoms when in with a patient, but they won't be wearing one all day. They are touching narcotics keys, phones, etc. after using a kleenex. The chances are good that no amount of handwashing will keep them from spreading infection to co-workers and patients. This is an infection control matter. Working sick is not doing anyone any favors, IMO.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
some facilities will send you home if you come in with cold or flu s/s. there are usually signs that will say this at the nursing stations. personally, i do not like to work with anyone who is sick. they might wear a mask if they have respiratory symptoms when in with a patient, but they won't be wearing one all day. they are touching narcotics keys, phones, etc. after using a kleenex. the chances are good that no amount of handwashing will keep them from spreading infection to co-workers and patients. this is an infection control matter. working sick is not doing anyone any favors, imo.

i totally agree with your take on this topic, indigo girl! i just wish everyone at my place of work was of this same understanding. what bothers me is when your place of work encourages those that are sick to show up. now that's crazy!

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I hear supervisors saying 'take some meds, and see how you feel in a few hours'.

We are desperate for help that it is more likely that they would rather have the help now than worry about paying for it later. I think it is part that our supervisors lack foresight in schedueling and do not take action until 24hours before the shift starts--and usually less.

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Not only do most places not care if you show up sick at work, they expect you to show up. They can't keep staff as it is.

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Specializes in Lie detection.

funny thing, my supvr. wouldn't let me come to work when i had sinus sx. i actually felt ok, just sounded bad. but she is so inconsistent. there have been times in the past when i felt like crap and she didn't tell me to stay home. go figure.

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[color=#483d8b]it's not like we have extra help now.

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Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
funny thing, my supvr. wouldn't let me come to work when i had sinus sx. i actually felt ok, just sounded bad. but she is so inconsistent. there have been times in the past when i felt like crap and she didn't tell me to stay home. go figure.

[color=#483d8b]it's not like we have extra help now.

you are the person who knows if you are too sick to work or not. if i call in sick it's to tell mgr/supr/ that i won't be in--not to ask if it's ok for me to stay home. just call in with the required notice and it's up to mgmt to find staff.

(something i've noticed since i entered nursing--healthcare workers "call out sick" while those in other lines of work "call in sick" anybody else notice this?)

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You are the person who knows if you are too sick to work or not. If I call in sick it's to tell mgr/supr/ that I won't be in--not to ask if it's OK for me to stay home. Just call in with the required notice and it's up to mgmt to find staff.

(Something I've noticed since I entered nursing--healthcare workers "call out sick" while those in other lines of work "call in sick" Anybody else notice this?)

We call it "calling in sick" here. Guess it depends on where you live.

steph

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Specializes in Brain injury,vent,peds ,geriatrics,home.

I think it makes our job harder in the long run.Next our patients will catch our disease,and well end up having to care for them,more intensely.Also they are already compromised,what might be a minor illnes for us,could be catastrophic to someone already immunocomprimised.Ya know?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
You are the person who knows if you are too sick to work or not. If I call in sick it's to tell mgr/supr/ that I won't be in--not to ask if it's OK for me to stay home. Just call in with the required notice and it's up to mgmt to find staff.

Same here. So I have to ask--why does the Charge nurse have to know what my s/s are? Like I'm not able to determine whether or not I'm really sick and need her input?

Gets me every time.

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Specializes in Lie detection.
you are the person who knows if you are too sick to work or not. if i call in sick it's to tell mgr/supr/ that i won't be in--not to ask if it's ok for me to stay home. just call in with the required notice and it's up to mgmt to find staff.

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well, you're mostly right. i do decide when i'm sick. but, they won't find staff. especially if i'm out only a day or 2. then i have to find a way to see my pt's in less days. there just nobody to cover the occasional sick day. now if it goes on for a week then they have to divvy up the caseload. we don't have prn staff so it gets divided up between regular staff. it usually ends up working out okay and when an emergency pops up, everyone pulls together.

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[color=#483d8b]we're a small office, only 4 staff/field nurses at the present. we have to find a way to work as a team:nuke: . even the supvr's will do visits if the need arises.

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